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St. James Retirement Village try to break Hokey Pokey world record

They may not have achieved their goal of breaking a world record but police helped plenty of senior citizens become digitally savvy in a quirky way.

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They may not have achieved their goal of breaking a world record but police helped plenty of senior citizens become digitally savvy in a quirky way.

On Friday police partnered with District Neighbourhood Watch and Neighbourhood Watch Australasia to support seniors venturing online by attempting to break the number of people doing the Hokey Pokey using videoconference software Zoom.

Virtual Senior Sit-Down Hokey Pokey World Record Attempt at St. James Retirement Village. Oldest participant at 101yo Elsie Prince. Picture: Alix Sweeney
Virtual Senior Sit-Down Hokey Pokey World Record Attempt at St. James Retirement Village. Oldest participant at 101yo Elsie Prince. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Townsville Police Senior Sergeant Janelle Poole said 40 people at Heatley’s St James Retirement Village joined many others across Queensland in the world record attempt.

“This week is the Neighbourhood Watch Get Online Week, and that’s about encouraging the older members of the community to get online, and if they’re already online how to be online and be safe,” she said.

Virtual Senior Sit-Down Hokey Pokey World Record Attempt at St. James Retirement Village. Sandra Smith. Picture: Alix Sweeney
Virtual Senior Sit-Down Hokey Pokey World Record Attempt at St. James Retirement Village. Sandra Smith. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“Sadly the older members of our community are quite a vulnerable target audience, so it’s really important we educate all members of the community … in relation how to be safe.”

Seniors were taught to strengthen passwords, how to detect and avoid scams and protect their privacy on social media as part of Get Online Week.

The world’s largest hokey pokey dance was performed by 196,569 people in 2002 in Canada.

Virtual Senior Sit-Down Hokey Pokey World Record Attempt at St. James Retirement Village. Oldest participant at 101yo Elsie Prince. Picture: Alix Sweeney
Virtual Senior Sit-Down Hokey Pokey World Record Attempt at St. James Retirement Village. Oldest participant at 101yo Elsie Prince. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Originally published as St. James Retirement Village try to break Hokey Pokey world record

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/townsville/st-james-retirement-village-try-to-break-hokey-pokey-world-record/news-story/de1c8e03227b11becd476b86ff39011e